Digital Event Horizon
Renowned computer scientist Geoffrey Hinton has been awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics for his foundational work on deep learning, a technology that underpins modern artificial intelligence. However, his concerns about the potential risks of advanced AI systems have also drawn attention to the idea of doomerism, and whether near-future AI could precipitate catastrophic events.
Renowned computer scientist Geoffrey Hinton has been awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics for his contributions to deep learning and artificial neural networks. Hinton's work on machine learning was recognized, but also sparked controversy with his views on the potential risks of advanced AI systems, labeled as "doomerism" by some. Despite skepticism from many, Hinton expressed surprise and humility upon receiving the award, crediting new large language models like GPT-4 for changing his perspective. Hinton's warnings about existential risks associated with AI have gained mainstream attention, sparking a months-long media buzz about the topic.
In a surprise move, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics to Geoffrey Hinton, a renowned computer scientist who pioneered the development of deep learning, a technology that underpins modern artificial intelligence. The award, shared with fellow researcher John Hopfield, recognizes foundational discoveries and inventions that enable machine learning with artificial neural networks.
Hinton's journey to this milestone was marked by a sudden shift in perspective, as he began to express concerns about the potential risks of advanced AI systems. His views on the subject, which have been described as "doomerism" by some, posited that near-future AI could precipitate catastrophic events, up to and including human extinction.
The idea of doomerism was not new, but Hinton's involvement brought it into the spotlight. Hundreds of top scientists and tech leaders signed open letters warning of the disastrous downsides of artificial intelligence, while politicians assured voters they would take steps to prevent the worst. Despite the attention, many consider Hinton's views to be fantastical, with some even labeling them as "preposterously ridiculous."
However, in a statement after receiving the news, Hinton expressed surprise and humility, saying he had no idea that his contributions would lead to such recognition. When asked about the motivation behind his sudden change of heart, Hinton revealed that he was awestruck by the capabilities of new large language models, such as OpenAI's GPT-4, which he believed could quickly become smarter than humans.
"I have suddenly switched my views on whether these things are going to be more intelligent than us," he told an interviewer last year. "I think they're very close to it now and they will be much more intelligent than us in the future. How do we survive that?" Hinton's remarks sparked a months-long media buzz, as the idea of existential risks associated with AI began to gain mainstream attention.
The Nobel Prize award not only recognizes Hinton's foundational work but also shines a light on his more speculative concerns about AI's potential impact on humanity. As the technology continues to evolve and become increasingly integrated into everyday life, it remains to be seen whether Hinton's warnings will prove prescient or mere fantasy.
Related Information:
https://www.technologyreview.com/2024/10/08/1105221/geoffrey-hinton-just-won-the-nobel-prize-in-physics-for-his-work-on-machine-learning/
Published: Wed Oct 16 06:17:47 2024 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
